Toy train



May 24, 1966 J. F. STEINKAMP TOY TRAIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1964 MEN TOR: JO5EPH F. STE/A/KAMP y 1966 J. F. STEINKAMP 3,252,428

TOY TRAIN Filed April 15, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wm 1 242' U H w QB \L s? EL 57 j[ 4 87 /Nl EI /TOR 87 87 JOSEPH F. STEIN/(AMP:

United States Patent Oflice 3,252,428 Patented May 24, 1966 3,252,428 TOY TRAIN Joseph F. Steiniramp, 10858 Antrill Drive, St. Louis, Mo. Filed Apr. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 359,031 7 Claims. (Cl. 105147) The present invention relates generally to toys, and more particularly to a novel toy engine unit operating between vertically spaced single rails, and to associated structure.

Electric trains have long been favorite toys with most children. They are hobbies with many adults. In general, the toy electric trains commonly on sale are the three-rail type. Toy monorail trains and trains suspended between spaced opposed single rails have been devised, but to date have been unsatisfactory for many reasons, hence, are not available to children. The applicant has devised a toy train which operates between opposed single rails.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy powered unit or train of the opposed single rails type which is highly effective as a toy,

In brief, the present novel toy includes a powered unit or engine of streamlined configuration having upper and lower pairs of wheels for operative mounting between opposed single rails. One pair of wheels is driven by a small electric motor and suitable gearing. Selected pairs of wheels are bodily movable for mounting the engine between the opposed rails. Power is supplied to the electric motor from house current through the usual transformer and the rails. The opposed rails are supported by posts carrying upper and lower clips.

Another object is to provide a novel poweredunit or toy train of the opposed single rails type in which the train may be readily disposed between and removed from the opposed rails, yet which does not leave the rails even at substantial speeds.

Another object is to provide a novel toy train including novel movable units and novel track structure which can be readily assembled and disassembled and is adapted for long use.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of an engine incorporating the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, vertical, transverse, crosssectional view taken on substantially the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 55 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a track layout for the present novel train;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged end view of the track, portions being broken away for conservation of space and the present novel toy engine being indicated between the opposed single rails in broken lines;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged horizontal view taken on substantially the line 99 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a fragment of FIGURE 9, illustrating the movable switch element in its other position of movement;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged plan view of the directionchange switch shown in FIGURE 6 clipped to a segment of track;

FIGURE 12 is a further enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 12-12 of FIGURE 11; and

FIGURE 13 is an electrical circuit for the track layout of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, in FIGURES 1-5 is shown a powered unit in the form of a streamlined rocket car or engine 15 constructed to include the principles of the present invention. The engine 15 includes a casing 16 comprising two halves 17 and 18. Mounted within the easing 15 by screws 19 is a main bracket 21) of the form shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Secured to the front end of the bracket 29 is a post 21 of insulation material to the top of which is secured a small bulb socket 22 in which is disposed a small bulb 23. A bracket 24 is mounted on the vertical post 21. A sleeve 26 is mounted in vertical position on the bracket 24 and reciprocatively receives a second sleeve 27 to the upper end of which is secured a U-shaped bracket 23 by means of a brad 29, the lower end of the brad 29 extending through the bracket 24 and being peened over to prevent withdrawal upwardly. A spring 30 within the sleeve 26 biases the sleeve 27 into the position of FIGURE 4. Rotata-bly mounted within the U-bracket 28 are grooved or pulley wheels 32. A wire 33 runs to the lamp socket 22 from a small electric motor 36 and a wire 34 runs from the lamp socket 22 to the .U-shaped bracket 28 in the Wellknown manner.

The small electric motor 36 is mounted on the bracket I 21;, as shown. The motor 36 includes a rotatable shaft 37 to one end of which is secured a small pinion 38 by means of a setscrew. Below the shaft 37 is a rotatable shaft 4%) which is mounted at the rear end for support the main body of the bracket 20 and at the other end by a return flange portion 49 of the bracket 20 which is connected to the main vertical portion of the bracket 20 by a horizontal portion 50. Secured to the shaft 48 for rotation therewith is a large beveled gear 52 which is in mesh with the small beveled gear 46 and is driven therethrough. Also secured to the shaft 48 for movement therewith is a small pulley 53. Pivotally connected to the bottom of the connecting portion 50 extending laterally from the main body of the bracket 26 is a U-shaped bracket 51 similar to the U-shaped bracket 28 which rotatably supports two grooved or pulley wheels 54 like the wheels 32. A belt 55 is trained about the small pulley 53 and the grooved wheels 54 for driving the latter from the former. The wheels 54 are the drive wheels of the powered unit or engine 15.

It will be observed from FIGURES 13 that the wheels 32 and 54 extend vertically upwardly and downwardly, respectively, through the casing 16 through openings 57 and 53, respectively. The openings 57 and 58 are made wide enough to permit the pairs of wheels 32 and 54 to turn sufliciently to permit the powered uni-t 15 to negotiate track curves and switches.

A sleeve 60 having upper and lower horizontal flanges 61 is pivotally mounted at the rear of the casing 16 in a a like the wheels 32. A pair of vertically disposed switch blade contacting elements 68 are rotatably mounted on a strap 69, which is welded to the bottom of the U-shaped member 64.

A U-shaped member 71 shaped like the U-shaped member 64 is pivotally mounted at 72 on the plate 62, being biased into the position of FIGURE 2 by a wire spring 73, the central coil of which is mounted about a transverse post 74 mounted in the plate 62, one arm engaging the U-shaped member 71 and the other a notch 75 in the plate 62 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The U-shaped member 71 supports at its free end a small U-shaped bracket 76 which, in turn, rotatably supports grooved or pulley wheels 77 like the wheels 32.

It is manifest that the several sets of wheels 32, 54, 67 and 77 are free to pivot for purposes of taking track and switch curves. In addition, the wheels 32 and 77 move bodily in a vertical plane against spring bias to permit the powered unit or engine to be placed in position on o'pposed single tracks and to maintain it there.

In FIGURE 6 is a track layout which includes opposed pairs of switches 80 and 81, track supporting posts 82, a track selector switch 83, and track segments 84. Any combination of track layout and accessories may be used.

Each post 82 is of the configuration clearly shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, being generally in the form of a capital letter C. Each post 82 carries a top clip 85 and a bottom clip 86 which are mounted on the free opposed ends of the post 82 for reception of the track segments 84. The track segments 84 are of the cross section clearly shown in FIGURE 12 and include a base portion 87 which is received in the clips 85 and 86. The clips 85 and 86 may receive end portions of two track segments or a single track segment, depending upon the manner in which the posts 82 are held in position in the track layout.

It will be appreciated that electric power is supplied to the electric motor 36 from the opposed rails 84 in the usual manner. In FIGURE 13 there is anelectrical diagram which indicates one simple electrical relationship for supplying electrical current to the rails 84 and to the elements for actuating the switches 80 and 81, which may be housed as a composite unit or be separate elements. A transformer 100 receives electrical current from a house source or otherwise, by means of a plug 101, a switch 102 being provided for energizing and deenergizing the transformer 100. A split secondary, including segments 104 and 105, provides current for the track 84 and for the switches 80 and 81, and any other auxiliary equipment used with the train layout. A rectifier 106 receives the current from the secondary segment 105 which converts the usual supply of alternating current to direct current, which passes through a reversing switch 107 and to track terminals 108. An on and off switch may be provided ahead of the terminals 108. It will be understood that the terminals 108 are connected by suitable wires to the upper and lower rails 84. Current from the secondary segment 104 is delivered to switch terminals 109 through a switch 110 provided for deenergizing and energizing the circuit, as desired. It is to be understood that suitable leads go from the terminals 109 to the solenoids 110 and to any other operating equipment. Other layouts and electrical systems may be employed.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by Way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a powered unit comprising a casing, multiple wheel means operatively associated with said casing adapted to run on opposed single rails, selected wheel means being mounted for movement towards and away from opposed wheel means, power means in said casing, and means operatively connecting said power means with wheel means for rotating the latter, one group of opposed wheel means being mounted on a common support, said support being pivotally mounted at one end of said casing on a vertical axis so that said group of opposed wheel means is therethrough movable laterally bodily of said casing.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which each opposed wheel means of said one group is independently pivotally mounted to insure contact of the wheels on rails.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said one group of opposed wheel means includes a plate pivotally connected to said casing for movement about a vertical axis, a first U-shaped member secured to said plate for movement therewith, a second U-shaped member pivotally connected to said plate for movement therewith and pivotal movement in a plane parallel therewith, spring means biasing said second U-shaped member away from said first U-shaped member, a U-shaped bracket pivotally connected to each U-shaped member in opposed relation for movement substantially in the plane of said plate, and a pair of tandem wheels rotatively supported by each U- bracket in opposed upwardly and downwardly directions for engagement with opposed single rails.

4. The combination of claim 3 including means mounted on said first U-shaped member for engaging a switch to effect a travel path change for said powered unit.

5. In combination, a powered unit comprising a casing, multiple wheel means operatively associated with said casing adapted to run on opposed single rails, selected wheel means being mounted for movement towards and away from opposed wheel means, power means in said casing, and means operatively connecting said power means with wheel means for rotating the latter, said operatively connecting means including an electric motor rotor, a rotatable shaft, a gear train between said rotor and said shaft, and belt means operatively trained around one wheel means and said shaft for driving said one wheel means and therethrough said unit on a track.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which said belt means is trained directly around wheels of said wheel means, said wheels being adapted to engage a single rail with said belt means trapped therebetween.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which each wheel means includes two tandem Wheels for engagement with a single rail.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 474,331 5/1892 Boynton l05147 X 832,319 10/1906 Humphrey l05147 968,384 8/1910 Mittag l05147 1,679,068 7/1928 Allen et al. l05147 1,930,780 10/1933 Soules l04l2l 1,993,456 3/1935 Roscher 104-121 2,002,427 5/1935 Bacon 104-121 ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLER, Examiner.

F. W. MONAGHAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A POWERED UNIT COMPRISING A CASING, MULTIPLE WHEEL MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID CASING ADAPTED TO RUN ON OPPOSED SINGLE RAILS, SELECTED WHEEL MEANS BEING MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARDS AND AWAY FROM OPPOSED WHEEL MEANS, POWER MEANS IN SAID CASING, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID POWER MEANS WITH WHEEL MEANS FOR ROTATING THE LATTER, ONE GROUP OF OPPOSED WHEEL MEANS BEING MOUNTED ON A COMMON SUPPORT, SAID SUPPORT BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID CASING ON A VERTICAL AXIS SO THAT SAID GROUP OF OP- 